Description
Design, develop, and qualify welding and joining processes that produce components and structures meeting design, performance, and code requirements. Select joint designs, base metals, and consumables; define parameters, preheat/interpass/PWHT, and quality controls; and specify equipment and automation for production. Investigate weld metallurgy and failures, advance new applications of welding, brazing, and soldering, and ensure compliance with AWS/ASME/API standards and safety.
- • Analyze weld failure data, NDT results, and mechanical tests to determine root causes and corrective actions.
- • Monitor weld performance in service and assess deterioration, corrosion, and fatigue.
- • Supervise and mentor welders, technicians, and inspectors.
- • Design and direct welding procedure qualification (PQR) and welder qualification (WPQ) testing.
- • Evaluate welding specifications, tolerances, and economics to meet design and production objectives.
- • Conduct or oversee NDT (UT, RT, PT, MT) and destructive testing of welds to verify quality.
- • Prepare and maintain WPS/PQR/WPQ documentation, budgets, cost estimates, and technical reports.
- • Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and metallurgical teams to resolve welding and fabrication issues.
- • Plan and manage welding projects and coordinate with operations and leadership.
- • Review new product and drawing packages for weldability; recommend joint designs, base metals, and filler metals.
- • Specify, select, and commission welding equipment, fixtures, robots, and fume extraction systems.
- • Define preheat, interpass control, and postweld heat treatment to manage microstructure, hardness, and residual stress.
- • Guide technical staff in developing welding solutions for specific service conditions and environments.
- • Plan and run lab trials and pilot builds to develop, optimize, and validate welding parameters.
- • Select appropriate welding, brazing, and soldering processes and parameters for given materials and thicknesses.
- • Develop process control plans, acceptance criteria, and inspection checkpoints per AWS/ASME/API/ISO codes.
- • Oversee shop and field welding operations, qualification tests, and NDT to ensure compliance and safety.
- • Train personnel and customers on welding procedures, equipment use, codes, and best practices.
- • Use CAD/CAM and welding simulation tools to predict heat input, distortion, and residual stresses.
- • Support repair welding, overlay/cladding, and dissimilar-metal joining, including procedure development.
- • Present technical findings and recommendations in design reviews, audits, and industry conferences.
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
